Detroit Renames Street After Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul

In this Thursday, June 8, 2017 photo, a street sign for Aretha Franklin Way is unveiled at the corner of Madison and Brush streets, outside of Music Hall in Detroit. (David Guralnick/The Detroit News)/Detroit News via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Aretha Franklin’s hometown of Detroit has named a street after her.

A section of Madison Street, between Brush and Witherell, was named Aretha Franklin Way for The Queen of Soul on Thursday. The area is at the heart of a performing arts district that includes the Detroit Opera House.

Franklin told a crowd gathered at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts that she knew she would “get weepy” by the honor.

The 75-year-old Franklin thanked the Detroit City Council for the honor, which she called magnificent. She went on to recall her youthful days skating at the Arcadia Ballroom and singing at the Flame Show Bar.

The street-naming launched four days of events for the inaugural Detroit Music Weekend, designed to showcase the city’s artists.